IT Week (UK) articles from February 2008

IT Week (UK) archives from February 2008

Cranberry device locks down the PC.(Product/service evaluation)
February 4, 2008... Byline: Daniel Robinson Cranberry device locks down the PC The SC20 blends thin client and PC features to ease management while keeping flexibility The Cranberry SC20 Smart Client attempts to combine the appliance-like management...

IT managers fare badly in health report.
February 4, 2008... IT managers fare badly in health report A recent Bupa survey uncovers senior tech employees as health dodgers, but is this a fair reflection? I had to laugh at a recent press release from private healthcare provider Bupa, which...

Small may be beautiful, but not for laptops.
February 4, 2008... Byline: Kelvyn Taylor Small may be beautiful, but not for laptops Ultra-thin laptops like the Macbook Air compromise too much to be useful business tools So small and thin is definitely in A- again A- for notebooks in 2008. But...

Client virtualisation moves forward.
February 4, 2008... Byline: Daniel Robinson Client virtualisation moves forward VMware and ClearCube aim to simplify deployment and management of virtual machines Virtual desktops are likely to become a more attractive proposition for businesses...

Virtual management takes a front seat.
February 4, 2008... Byline: Roger Howorth Virtual management takes a front seat Microsoft System Center upgrade also boasts backup and configuration capabilities Last November, Microsoft delivered new versions of three of the main components in its...

High street shopping logs on.
February 4, 2008... Byline: Phil Muncaster High street shopping logs on Online shopping now accounts for 15 per cent of all retail, but security threats could harm growth The latest figures from e-commerce industry body the Interactive Media in...

News2 lead/4.2/HP intn client.
February 4, 2008... News2 lead/4.2/HP intn client Daniel Robinson HP has introduced three new thin client terminals, including its first laptop-style portable unit. The new models have the performance to meet business demands for multimedia messaging, HP...

EnterpriseDB.
February 4, 2008... EnterpriseDB Martin Veitch Open-source database firm EnterpriseDB is the latest to endorse Amazon.com's services for running operations over the internet, with plans to offer its database online. EnterpriseDB said from March it...

Virgin ups broadband.
February 4, 2008... Virgin ups broadband Virgin Media has announced its high-speed 50Mbit/s broadband service will be extended out across the UK later this year, following current trials. The high-speed service will be available to more than nine million...

Open-source outfits merge.
February 4, 2008... Open-source outfits merge Application framework developer SpringSource is to acquire support provider Covalent Technologies as demand for services to back up open-source software investments builds up. SpringSource's products already...

Offshore IT supply may dwindle.
February 4, 2008... Offshore IT supply may dwindle Rosalie Marshall UK firms could find it difficult to obtain offshored IT services as the Indian national software body last week advised local firms to shift focus to the domestic market. The...

Parallels links virtual approaches.(Brief article)
February 4, 2008... Parallels links virtual approaches Daniel Robinson Parallels has released a new version of its Virtuozzo container-based virtualisation software and said it will have a converged product later this year that will allow customers to run...

Intel plots new wave of ultra-mobile PCs.
February 4, 2008... Intel plots new wave of ultra-mobile PCs Martin Veitch Intel will today provide details of its forthcoming processor family for ultra-mobile devices. Codenamed Silverthorne, the part is aimed at a new generation of systems with...

All change in the switching market.(forecast of network hardware industry)(Column)
February 11, 2008... Byline: Alan Stevens All change in the switching market Cisco's next-generation switch will be consolidating its leadership in the enterprise, says Alan Stevens Readers of these columns will perhaps remember my warning of the...

CIOs approaching a fork in the road.
February 11, 2008... Byline: Phil Muncaster CIOs approaching a fork in the road Can a good IT chief be both business change agent and manager of IT operations? Anew study from Forrester Research has highlighted the evolution of the role of chief...

Will new technology drive UMPCs?
February 11, 2008... Byline: Daniel Robinson Will new technology drive UMPCs? New chips will boost ultra-mobile performance, but the business case needs clarity Intel and VIA Technologies are both readying new platforms aimed at ultra-mobile devices...

Multiple monitors for mainstream use.(DisplayLink offers Plug-in software for multi screen monitors)
February 11, 2008... Byline: Daniel Robinson Multiple monitors for mainstream use DisplayLink offers users multiple screen technology via a simple USB connection Multi-monitor displays are a familiar sight on trading floors and in design studios, but...

Microsoft embraces multi-tenancy.
February 11, 2008... Byline: Phil Muncaster Microsoft embraces multi-tenancy The latest Dynamics CRM package extends a cautious hand to the hosting model Microsoft has finally given its endorsement to web-based business applications with the release...

Green IT still has a long way to go.(information technology services industry)
February 11, 2008... Byline: Daniel Robinson Green IT still has a long way to go While environmentally-friendly IT has been getting a lot of coverage, real improvements are slow in coming So-called green IT is getting increasing attention, not only...

Do copyright proposals go far enough?
February 11, 2008... Do copyright proposals go far enough? While copyright reforms are certainly long overdue, the enforcement issue should not be overlooked The proposals put forward to allow the making of personal copies of music that have been obtained...

Firms need to broaden risk outlook.
February 11, 2008... Firms need to broaden risk outlook Reports warn against silo approach to risk management and business continuity strategies In response to recent incidents, such as the sub-prime crisis in the US and internet disruption to businesses...

VoIP needs new enterprise security plan.
February 11, 2008... Byline: Dave Bailey VoIP needs new enterprise security plan Session border controllers are being touted as the future of IP telephony security The top threat for 2008 will be denial of service (DoS) and distributed DoS (DDoS)...

Web battleground set for shake-up.
February 11, 2008... Byline: Phil Muncaster Web battleground set for shake-up As Microsoft bids to take over Yahoo, is the end in sight for Google's market dominance? So, Microsoft has intentions on Yahoo, and hostile ones at that. Last year, when...

Sony Ericsson opens Windows.
February 11, 2008... Sony Ericsson opens Windows Daniel Robinson Sony Ericsson is to unveil its first Windows Mobile handset at this week's Mobile World Congress (MWC) show in Barcelona. The new handset, codenamed Venus, will be on display at MWC but...

Zimbra at risk from Microsoft bid.
February 11, 2008... Zimbra at risk from Microsoft bid Martin Veitch Although Microsoft's $44.6bn bid to buy Yahoo is largely focused on capturing the attention of consumers on the internet, but it could also affect businesses, not least because of Yahoo's...

Chief calls for central e-crime unit.
February 11, 2008... Chief calls for central e-crime unit Phil Muncaster A leading internet crime police chief has renewed calls for a dedicated UK police unit to tackle web security threats, reach out to industry and liaise with international law...

Hope for Vista as SP1 and WS2008 loom.
February 11, 2008... Hope for Vista as SP1 and WS2008 loom Daniel Robinson and martin veitch Microsoft has released to manufacturing (RTM) service pack 1 for Windows Vista, designed to address issues that early adopters had with the operating system and...

Blurring the mobile device boundaries.
February 11, 2008... Blurring the mobile device boundaries The gap between keyboard-based UMPCs and mini-laptops is increasingly small While many UMPC models have adopted a slate-style format and are designed to be held in the hand and used while on the...

Doni?1/2t let end users take you for granted.(Information technology services industry must provide effective service)
February 18, 2008... Byline: Alistair Dabbs Don't let end users take you for granted IT departments should change their culture and make users more aware of just how good a job they do One of the great dividing factors between smaller businesses and...

Businesses need to see a bigger picture.(talk with David Groves)(Interview)
February 18, 2008... Businesses need to see a bigger picture David Groves, European governance business unit head for management software specialist CA, discusses the current project and portfolio management technology landscape and sets out the benefits and...

Will Hurricane go down a storm?
February 18, 2008... Byline: Dave Bailey Will Hurricane go down a storm? Cisco faces new competition in the high-end switching market from Juniper's EX series Firms looking at alternatives to Cisco in the high-end performance LAN switching sector now...

Yell gains clarity on projects.
February 18, 2008... Yell gains clarity on projects Yell has been using project portfolio management tools to help allocate resources and identify skills gaps for more than a decade. The company now plans to upgrade the Clarity suite from CA to version 8.1...

Online fraud dominates retail show.
February 18, 2008... Byline: Phil Muncaster Online fraud dominates retail show Sub-standard anti-fraud technology could cost businesses money in the long term Online fraud prevention was the major theme of the annual Retail Business Show (RBS) held at...

Cultural shift is key to achieving benefits.(information technology services industry must consider portfolio management)
February 18, 2008... Cultural shift is key to achieving benefits Introducing portfolio management requires the IT department to change its ways Too many IT disasters have their roots in bad planning. Overruns in time and budget are the result, and...

How to manage the Microsoft way.
February 18, 2008... How to manage the Microsoft way At a recent London session, Bill Gates shared his views on how to handle rapid change Most people have a strong view of Microsoft and its technologies and business tactics but less well known is what...

The slow road to Windows Vista.
February 18, 2008... Byline: Daniel Robinson The slow road to Windows Vista Despite the imminent release of the SP1 update firms will remain cautious with adoption With the release to manufacturing of service pack 1 (SP1) for Windows Vista,...

Data protection must be global.
February 18, 2008... Data protection must be global In light of recent data losses, outsourcers are being urged to prioritise security processes Spurred on by recent UK data losses at public sector agencies, bodies representing UK and Indian software and...

Low-cost package roots out malware.
February 18, 2008... Low-cost package roots out malware Webroot's anti-spyware and anti-virus system does a good job of eradicating malicious code Launched in October, version 5.5 of Webroot's SpySweeper and Anti-Virus (SSAV) tool now has a neat...

Has too much been packed into WS2008?
February 18, 2008... Byline: Dave Bailey Has too much been packed into WS2008? Windows Server 2008 could put a burden on bandwidth and make licensing arrangements more complex Next Wednesday, in the City of the Angels, there's going to be be a hefty...

Security top priority for hosting customers.(talk with James Carnie of Elinia)(Interview)
February 18, 2008... Byline: Phil Muncaster Security top priority for hosting customers Elinia's James Carnie says compliance with standards is key in gaining the trust of clients IT Week: As technical architect of managed hosting provider Elinia, can...

Nipping project trouble in the bud.(managing IT projects of governments)
February 18, 2008... Nipping project trouble in the bud Large IT projects have a nasty habit of making the news for all the wrong reasons, with deadlines missed and budgets busted. But in most cases, the IT manager's blushes could have been spared if they had...

Acquisition is not the answer for Microsoft.
February 18, 2008... Acquisition is not the answer for Microsoft A Yahoo and Microsoft merger would create bigger market share but chaos in melding two web platforms Microsoft versus Yahoo is the biggest drama we have seen on the internet since the days of...

IM tools tailored for enterprises.
February 18, 2008... IM tools tailored for enterprises Phil Muncaster Instant messaging (IM) provider Process One will today launch two packages designed to enable greater collaboration among employees and offer firms new ways of engaging with their...

Forum coordinates security efforts.(awarness about information security)
February 18, 2008... Forum coordinates security efforts Phil Muncaster A major initiative from IT industry bodies was launched last week, designed to reduce information security failures by raising threat and best practice awareness levels. The idea...

New Firefox beta released.(Mozilla Corp.)(Brief article)
February 18, 2008... New Firefox beta released Mozilla last week posted a third beta of its Firefox 3 update. The move means that a final version of the program is likely to arrive in the next month or so. Firefox 3 is intended as a more secure release of...

Business Objects updates platform.(Business Objects S.A. (Paris, France))
February 18, 2008... Business Objects updates platform Rosalie Marshall Business Objects has released the first major update to its business intelligence (BI) platform since its merger with SAP, adding personalised metrics, better search tools and enhanced...

Mobile WiMax services edge closer.
February 18, 2008... Mobile WiMax services edge closer Mobile broadband could gain new options later this year, as the Mobile WiMax Acceleration Group (M-Wag) last week unveiled a pilot rollout in Maidstone, Kent, while Intel announced investment in WiMax...

Googlei?1/2s Android basks in MWC spotlight.
February 18, 2008... Google's Android basks in MWC spotlight David Neal and Daniel Robinson Technology that could power tomorrow's handsets was on show at last week's Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, including Google's Android platform, and a...

IT gear goes back to nature.
February 25, 2008... IT gear goes back to nature Equipment makers are looking to cut CO2 emissions through the use of biodegradable casings Composters are becoming a much more familiar sight in back gardens these days. All over the country, green-minded...

Mini laptop shows limitations.
February 25, 2008... Byline: Daniel Robinson Mini laptop shows limitations Maxdata's mini laptop is light and compact but usability suffers because of its small display The Belinea s.book 1 from Maxdata is a miniature laptop with a footprint about the...

Barcelona scores highly for innovation.
February 25, 2008... Barcelona scores highly for innovation The mobile industry shows no sign of flagging in its quest for innovative technology to tempt corporates February is the time of year when the world's mobile industry decamps to Catalonia for the...

Can Linux make an impact on phones?
February 25, 2008... Byline: Daniel Robinson Can Linux make an impact on phones? Mobile Linux is gaining attention but handset capabilities are more important than software platform One of the major themes that emerged from this year's Mobile World...

An odd couple or a perfect match?
February 25, 2008... Byline: Phil Muncaster An odd couple or a perfect match? Experts are split over what a merger would mean for Yahoo, Microsoft and the wider market Industry experts have voiced a wide range of opinions on the potential acquisition...

An appealing small alternative.(Brief article)
February 25, 2008... An appealing small alternative The Asus Eee PC adds the education sector to its fan base While the s.book 1 has a low price tag by comparison with most ultra-small PC laptops, it is beaten in the value stakes by the Asus Eee PC,...

Change requires support from above.
February 25, 2008... Change requires support from above Nick Scully of Lawson Software discusses ERP programmes and changes in the market IT Week: You recently joined Lawson Software from business software giant SAP. What were the main reasons for your...

Security suite patches Windows kit.
February 25, 2008... Security suite patches Windows kit Shavlik's latest patching and anti-spyware suite keeps desktops and servers clean Launched this month, version 6 of Shavlik's NetChk Protect security suite aims to keep Windows desktop systems and...

Knowledge helps MindTree to blossom.
February 25, 2008... Knowledge helps MindTree to blossom The IT services firm has created a knowledge ecosystem to boost workers' output Implementing a successful knowledge management (KM) strategy can be difficult thanks to the ever-growing amount of...

Piecing together the logistics jigsaw.(GT Nexus's logistics services)
February 25, 2008... Byline: Phil Muncaster Piecing together the logistics jigsaw Online marketplace pioneer GT Nexus wants to create an integration hub for supply chains At the peak of dot-com optimism in the 1990s, many online marketplaces were set...

Open XML under spotlight again Representatives from 37 countries will meet in Geneva this week to review modifications to Microsofti?1/2s Open XML document format standard. During the previous round of voting, the format failed to meet the acceptance criter.
February 25, 2008... Open XML under spotlight again Representatives from 37 countries will meet in Geneva this week to review modifications to Microsoft's Open XML document format standard. During the previous round of voting, the format failed to meet the...